Where in France is it cheapest to repair a car?

The cost of repairing a car in France has soared by more than 26% since 2019, and repairs now cost up to 31% more than the national average in four departments, newly-released figures show.

The figures come from the annual report by the car insurance and repairs company Association Sécurité et réparation automobile (SRA), based on four million reports nationwide.

They show that in 2023, the average cost of repairs rose by 7% year-on-year, mainly driven by rising inflation. This included the cost of new parts (up 7.5%), workmanship / labour (5.9%), and painting (8.6%).

On average throughout the country the cost of repairs in 2023 was 26.2% higher than in 2019.

However, some departments have seen a much higher rise than others. “Forty percent of departments have average costs that are higher than the national average,” the SRA said.

Which departments have higher than average repair costs?

Corsica and Paris prices are more than 30% higher than the average, while Bouches-du-Rhône, Vosges, Hautes-Pyrénées, and Meuse are more than 20% higher.

The departments with the highest increase compared to the national average are:

• Corsica, 31.6% higher

• Paris, 31.2% higher

• Bouches-du-Rhône, 28%

• Vosges, 26.7%

• Hautes-Pyrénées, 23.8%

• Meuse, 20.9%

• Loire, 17.6%

• Seine-Saint-Denis, 15.2%

• Rhône, 13.1%

• Val-d'Oise, 11.9%

The cost of spare parts now accounts for 52% of the cost of repairs overall, the report said.

The cost of repairs is not the only indicator to have risen; the value of vehicles ‘written off’ (classed as ‘economically irreparable’) has risen by 27% between 2021 and 2023, the SRA said.

This can be explained by “the tension on the new and second-hand markets following the health crisis…the lack of availability of electronic components…and the increase in sale prices”, it said.

Where are repair costs lower than average?

Costs are notably lower than the national average the following departments:

• Côtes-d'Armor, 25.3% lower than the national average

• Pas-de-Calais, 25.3% lower

• Tarn-et-Garonne, 25.1% lower

• Deux-Sèvres, 23.8% lower

• Cantal, 20.7% lower

• Vienne, 19.9% lower

• Finistère, 19.4% lower

• Bas-Rhin, 17.3% lower

• Loire-Atlantique, 15.9% lower

• Ariège, 14.5% lower

The report also found that electric vehicles are becoming more present in the claims handled. However, the percentage is still low; in 2023, hybrid and purely electric vehicles accounted for less than 8% of claims, the SRA said.

Electric vehicles are becoming increasingly common in France, with the one millionth electric vehicle having been sold last year. Electric cars now make up 2.5% of the total vehicles nationwide.

The price to insure an electric car in France is set to jump this year (2024). The main reasons for this are the end of tax benefits on insurance agreements for electric vehicles, and higher repair costs.

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